Dear Editor
AT the time of penning this letter (Tuesday morning, 5th May) there has been a media rampage across the communication spectrum claiming that government’s denial of a return of the Carter Centrg and a GECOM /government collaboration to rig elections. A PPP-organised protest was even held in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling on the government to stop hindering the centre from returning, along with other unsavoury statements.
Days after this phase of misinformation began, mainstream media and all who were making these statements have not provided any evidence to show that the centre has sought approval to return and was denied entry by the government and/or the GECOM. The absence of this evidence fuels the belief of the less critical amongst us and plays the cards in favour of the campaign of misinformation and deceit. It does more harm than good in this volatile environment to our body politic and relationships, local and external.
On Sunday, 3rd May, a soft statement issued by the United States (US) Ambassador, snowballed to the members of the US State Department and other members of the international community, adding further ferocity to the issue, leading members of the PPP and supporters in the media, private sector and elsewhere to become firmer in their conviction that mischief was afoot. Coalition supporters reacted to the allegations with various emotions. Consequently, social media became a battleground with a crescendo of vitriol.
Instructively, at the break of the story, media never mentioned any effort to solicit government’s perspective; whether the centre sought permission or not. Thus, the society was deprived of hearing the other side(s) in arriving at complete understanding of the issue, fuelling the ongoing misinformation overwhelming the nation.
Whereas the international community is condemned, equal attention is placed on government’s failure to immediately address the issue, for no doubt they would have been au fait with circulation of this news, be it from mainstream media or social media. Once again the weakness of its PR was exposed, allowing proliferation of misrepresentation as they remained inanely silent. The same should be said for GECOM. On Monday, save for the nation being reminded by two GECOM commissioners that observers once accredited for this election remain so until the election is over, otherwise the matter was not addressed.
After all the created confusion, the centre tweeted a press statement on Monday which revealed, “The Center deployed an observer to Miami who was prepared to travel to Georgetown today, but unfortunately, the flight was denied approval to carry international election observers. The Carter Centre continues to reach out to government officials to understand what is required to allow Centre Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process.”
The said statement made no reference to being denied entry, but seeking to engage “government officials to understand what is required to allow Centre Observers to return to Guyana to witness the recount process,” which it should continue to do. The acknowledgment of this does not constitute a request and said was denied in an effort to prevent the centre from being in Guyana to fulfil its desire to observe the elections.
Rather, it suggests that the centre was not au fait with the flight requirements and public health protocols required to satisfy entry, given the COVID-19 safeguards. It appears they may have attempted or taken for granted they could come to Guyana unprepared. In response to COVID-19 many countries, including Guyana, have locked down their airspace to international travel in efforts to contain the spread of the virus. When Guyana opens its airspace for the arrival of a chartered plane, the international crew is not allowed to deplane.
A pre-condition for arrival of the CARICOM scrutinising team was that they had to meet World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommended requirements on COVID-19 safety precautions. Similar guidelines must be set and met by all who seek entry to Guyana while it is on lockdown, without exception. Reportedly, as of to date Guyana’s death rate has exceeded 9 per cent (based on the cases), which is above the WHO’s average of 2-4 per cent.
Some positions taken by our western allies and international election observers are not only pushing the boundaries of “good diplomacy,” time-honoured principles, and mutual respect, but openly set out to act in contravention of the International Code of Conduct pertaining to observing elections. We are witnessing engagement that no longer prides itself on formal private communication (i.e. letter, face-to-face or telephone calls) to the responsible agency seeking to address issues.
It seems as though privacy of communication, particularly on matters of such import and diplomatic sensitivity are no longer valued, hence the tweeting diplomacy which allows for open and flagrant negativity to some and support to others. This is not ‘good diplomacy’.
This kind of interaction with contempt for our rules, laws and sovereignty is more representative of a thug-like diplomacy, that is, diplomacy that fronts raw, naked aggression and bullyism; diplomacy that desires no negotiation, only compliance; a diplomacy of disrespect of others who are considered lesser than; a diplomacy that suggests we are not capable of internal resolution of differences.
Whether the government is interim, caretaker or substantive, it is the legal status quo responsible for day-to-day administration of the state. Our international diplomats know this and we expect them to respect this.
Regards
Lincoln Lewis
Source: https://issuu.com/guyanachroniclee-paper/docs/guyana_chronicle_epaper_05_07_2020